Overview

Michigan first legalized gaming in 1933 when pari-mutuel horse racing was legalized. It was not until 1972 that Michigan adopted its second form of legal wagering - a state run lottery.

Tribal Class III gaming emerged on the scene in the late 1980s with Class I and Class II gaming. In the mid-1990s, the state entered into Class III gaming compacts with seven tribes, and followed that in 1998 with four additional compacts.

Limited commercial casino gaming was legalized in Michigan in November 1996, with the passage of a voter referendum, Proposal E. Proposal E enacted the Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act and authorized up to three private casinos in the city of Detroit.